Bautista Confirmed for Guardians of the Galaxy

MMA and WWE wrestler makes the jump to outer space for Marvel.

We knew he was in the running for the part, and now mixed martial artist and WWE wrestler Dave Bautista has signed on to costar as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.

advertisement

Jason Momoa, of Conan remake and Game of Thrones fame, had originally been rumored to win the role last month, but reportedly turned it down. Isaiah Mustafa and Brian Patrick Wade had also been up for the Drax part, but Bautista now has the job.

Chris Pratt is already onboard the project, playing Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord. Drax is a formerly dead human (killed by Thanos!) who is resurrected to kill the purple-faced basterd -- at least, that's how it goes down in the comics. Other members of the team who have yet to be cast include the assassin Gamora, the tree-man Groot and the talking raccoon, Rocket.

Bautista was seen recently in The Man With the Iron Fists and will also appear opposite Vin Diesel in Riddick next fall.